Why a quick burst of Chris Wood might be the play for Dream Team managers this month

CHRIS WOOD (£3.9m) has already done enough to be forever synonymous with the 2024/25 Premier League season.

The 33-year-old has scored 18 goals in the top flight this campaign to fire Nottingham Forest to the brink of Champions League qualification.

Dream TeamOne of the stories of the season[/caption]

Wood’s clinical finishing has been a huge factor in the massive over-performance of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, currently third in the table having finished 17th last season.

Only Mohamed Salah (£8m), Erling Haaland (£8.1m) and Alexander Isak (£6.4m) have scored more goals than the big New Zealander in Dream Team this term.

But whereas those three superstars all rank within the top ten for total shots in the league at this stage, Wood is just 26th in the same metric.

The list of players to have registered more shots than Forest’s top scorer includes Dominik Szoboszlai (£4.4m), Alejandro Garnacho (£2.9m) and Alex Iwobi (£2.9m).

PAWood is on track for 20+ Premier League goals this season[/caption]

Wood’s efficiency is truly remarkable.

He’s scored 18 league goals from chances worth a total of 10.9 xG (expected goals) – in this regard he has been the league’s best finisher.

For comparison, Haaland has scored 20 goals from 19.9 xG.

Naturally, an in-form goalscorer of this variety is a hugely appealing prospect for Dream Team managers.

However, Wood’s viability has been limited by his comparatively relaxed schedule.

All but 85 of his 2,368 minutes have come in the Premier League.

Whereas Salah, with additional European commitments and a more prominent role in the domestic cups, has racked up 3,486 minutes!

EPASalah has played over 1,000 more minutes than Wood[/caption]

This deficit has been a reason to avoid Wood for much of the campaign but there’s no reason to shy away from him ahead of Gameweek 28.

Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are set to blank this coming Gameweek while the other 18 clubs will all be in action once each.

And Forest have one of the most favourable fixtures in the form of a trip to Portman Road.

Ipswich are languishing in 18th having mustered just 17 points in 28 outings since their return to the top flight.

Only Southampton and Leicester have conceded more goals than the Tractor Boys and so Wood has to be considered a relatively strong option for Saturday’s match-up.

Wood versus Ipswich is a potential mismatchEPA

Looking past the international break, Forest are one of just seven teams with two games in Gameweek 29: Brighton (a) and Manchester United (h).

That visit to the Seagulls comes in the FA Cup and there’s every chance Wood will start on the bench as Taiwo Awoniyi (£2.2m) has led the line in the cups of late.

But the big No11 might get some substitute minutes in the second half before he starts against the Red Devils at the City Ground.

The point being, Wood’s main weakness in Dream Team (lack of minutes) will not be a factor at all for the rest of March.

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